Davey Chesson Dr.

Whitehead English 1302-01 10/19/2011 Music: Embody the Invisible

Music is the closest thing we can attribute to magic in the current world we inhabit; in the sense that music can induce nearly indescribable emotions never to be experienced otherwise. Human nature thrives on music; whether consciously aware or not, it serves a purposeful measure in every culture and society. Music can trigger an array of common emotions; joy, anger, humor, depression, excitement, and several others. Intense indescribable feelings can be experienced through music, such as relating to the music in ways you cannot express with words. Although it remains largely mysterious, it has not hindered the progression of music in human culture.

There are many styles, or genres, of music as of today. The roots of music we frequent today have been exuberantly influenced by classical music. Music is a composition of three particular elements, which consist of melody, rhythm, and harmony. However, music predates even classical music taking the form of tribal rituals and chants. Chants can be seen in all facets of religious ceremonies and prayers. Instrumental music became more prominent as new instruments were crafted and engineered; thus springing forth opera, which would become an era's main music scene. Opera was highly metaphorical, symbolic, and was used in wondrous ways to express human emotion on an entirely new level. Music became media; it crafted a niche that would give ideology and emotion, theatrical themes and substance. Opera was followed by a wave of classical music composition and the birth of the orchestra; including famous composers such as Beethoven and Mozart. These moments in history would pave the way for further enhancements and innovation in the field of music. Numerous styles of music began to animate in

the music scene in various ways; all the while music affected people on a spiritual level.

The mystery is how music can communicate with the soul; a way to connect with the part of you that never sees the light of day. It is the one time something inherently illogical can make perfect sense, without a single spoken word. Consistency lies separately within each individual; it's possible one person can get the same effect every time while another greatly varies. Music is psychoactive and coexists comprehensively with substance. Music without substance is like non-alcoholic beer; the tragedy to suffer unto the insignificance of a dull, emotionless river. A single good moment of quality music can literally intoxicate you; an experience of momentary frisson, which is the byproduct of stimulation of the pleasure chemical dopamine rushing into your brain at peak emotional arousal. It gives the term audiophile another level of meaning; the reality of literal audio junkies and music is their drug. Without music, audiophiles will start to sing, whistle, or tap profusely until they are in earshot of favorable music once again. Favorable music, however, is very much a preference, since what makes you enjoy music is a particular mixture of frequencies registering with your unique neurochemistry.

The complexity of the human brain alone, excluding the interaction with musical composition, is dumbfounding. Even with the amount of knowledge that is unknown about music and its effects on the human brain, it is still obvious some of the affects it does have for some. Music has saved lives; a single song can increase or decrease any emotion depending on your state of mind and the song. There have been people who were going to commit suicide, and a particular mixture of the right frequencies, and possibly lyrics that struck a personal nerve, changed their thought process and saved their life. Music has also been the victim as well; people kill or take other drastic measures and use music as a scapegoat. Songs can send a message to the entire world, bring back a good or bad memory, change the way you think about things, or even help bond with a person you would not have bonded with otherwise; helping to break through seemingly immovable issues.

You can be sure that music plays a significant role in our society, and we would be lying if we said we completely understood how music affects us. Music acts as entertainment; it can be controversial forcing people to think; music is art, which never dies; opening up a pathway to enlightenment; bridging an emotional connection; if nothing else it has great potential to be therapeutic. Though you cannot see the music, or explain what its doing to you to the fullest extent; you can get the same biological rewards knowing nothing about it, helping everyone who is willing to embody the invisible.